Tow rod



E. JESCHKE TOW ROD I 2 Sheets-Sheet 1- Filed March 21. 1922 til) Patented Jan. ll, I924.

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TOW ROI).

Application filed March 21, 1922. Serial No. 545,454.

T all whom it mag concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD JnsoHKn, a citizen of the United States, residin at Bellevue, in the county of Huron and tate of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tow Rods, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to tow rods and more particularly to a rigid sectional tow rod for use in towing'wheeled vehicles.

An object of the invention is the provision of a tow' 'r'od formed in two sections having clamps adapted to be secured to apart of the vehicle. The tow rod is formed of rigid material and the clamps arranged at the opposite end and are connected thereto to permit limited independent rotation of the clamp and rod to compensate for irregularities in the surface of the roadway over which the vehicles are traveling. In assembling the device one section of the tow rod is secured to the towing vehicle, and the other section secured to the towed vehicle by means of the clamps and the sections are then secured to each other.

In one form of the invention I employ clamping means consisting of a substantially U-shaped brace, a member reciprocable in the open end of the brace, a threaded rod secured to said member and a guide plate through which said rod passes.

In the accompanying drawings I have shown several embodiments of the invention. In this showing,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of portions of two vehicles showing one form of the invention applied,

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the tow rod detached,

Figure 3 is a perspective view of parts of the tow rod disassembled,

Figure 4 is a plan view of the tow rod,

Figure -5'is a transverse sectional view of the clamp on line 5-5 of Figure 4,

Fi ure 6 is a Similar view on line 6-6 of Figure 4,

Figure 7 isa detail of the invention,

Figure 8 is a side elevation of the form shown in Figure 6,

Figure 9 is a plan view thereof, parts being shown in section, and,

igure 10 is a detail sectional view on the line'1010 of Figure 8.

Referring to Figures view of another form 1 to 6 of the drawings, the reference numeral 1 designates a towing vehicle and 2 a towed vehicle. The vehicles are connected by a tow rod 3. This tow rod consists of two sections 1 and 5, each of which is provided with openings 6, adjacent one end. The ends of the sections of the tow rod are adapted to be received in a sleeve 7 As shown this sleeve is provided with two sets of openings 8 and 9. The openings in one section of the tow rod are adapted to be alined with the openings 8 and the openings .in the other section with the openings 9. Bolts 10 are passed through these openings and retained in position by mean-s of nuts 11. As shown the sections of the tow rod are hollow and are provided with rods 12 at their outer ends. These rods are curved to form hooks 13 which are mounted in eyes 14 formed on the ends of threaded rods 15. The threaded rod 15 forms a portion of a clamp which is adapted to fit around the axle or other part of the vehicle. As shown the clamp consists of a base 16 and a pair" of substantially parallel arms 17 forming-a U-shaped clip. A plate 18 is mounted between the arms and is adjustable with respect to the base to clamp the section of t e rod to a vehicle. This plate is connected to the threaded rod 18 by a swiveled connection 19 to permit rotation of the threaded rod without rotating the plate. The arms 17 are provided with notches 20 adjacent their outer ends adapted to receive the ends 21 of a guide plate 22. As shown, the ends of the guide plate pass through these notches and are then off-set as at 23 toprevent the guide plate from becoming displaced. This guide plate is provided 'with a'central threaded opening 24 which is adapted to receive the threaded rod 15. The inner faces of the arms 17 are provided with raised portions 25 to prevent displacement of the plate 18.

In the form of the invention shown in Figures 7 to 10 of the drawings, the tow rod comprises a pair of sections 26, the inner ends of which are threaded as at 27. These ends are adapted to be received in a sleeve 28 having internal threads which mesh with the threads 27 A plug 29 is arranged in the outer ends of these sections and these plugs are retained in position by means of pins 30. A ring 31 may be arranged on the outside of the tow rod as a reinforcement, if desired; The clamp employed at the front provided with an opening adapted to re- -ceive a lug 36 formed on the end of plug 29.

The outer end of this plug isenlarged as at 37 to prevent displacement of the clamp. A )late 38 is mounted adjacent the plate 32 and forms one of the receiving sections of the clamp.' The other receiving section is formed by a plate 39 and these sections are secured to the plate 32 by means of bolts 40. The receiving sections of the ficlamp are provided with off-set portions 42 adapted to fit around a part of the towing vehicle. The rear end of the tow rod is provided with a plate 42 similar to the plate 32 having a substantially semi-circular portion 43 which is secured to the rear plug in a similar manner. Theclamp consists of a pair of spaced plates 44 and 45 having openings ad acenttheir ends for the reception of bolts 46 which also pass through openings in the plate 42.

The operation of the form of invention shown in Figures 1 to 6 of the drawings is as follows The clamps formed on the opposite ends of the tow rods are first-secured to the two vehicles by revolving the threaded rod 15 in the guide plate 22. The clamping plate 18 is held against rotation by the raised portions 25 of the arms 17 and the clamp is thus tightened. After the two clamps have been placed in position the ends of the section of the tow rod are inserted in the sleeve 7 and the bolts 10 put in position. The connection between the clamps and the sections of the tow rod by means of hooks 13 and eyes 14 permits relative vertical movement of the clamp and tow rod dueto irregulari:

ties of the surface over which the vehicle is traveling and also permits turning as indicated indotted lines of Figure 4 of the drawings.

In the form of the invention shown in Figures 7 to 10 inclusive of the drawings, sections of the tow rod are first secured to the vehicles in a similar manner and then secured to each other by threading the inner ends into the sleeve 28. The connection by means of plugs 29 permits the tow rod to revolve'independently of the clamp and the lug 36 fits the opening 35 sufliciently loose to permit limited vertical and horizontal movement to compensate for irregularities in the surface of the rod and permit steering. The head 37 is however larger than the opening 35 and prevents the clamp from separating from the tow rod.

It is to be understood that the forms of my invention herewith shown and described are to be taken as preferred examples of the same, and that various changes in the shape, size, and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention, 1 claim:

1. A tow rod comprising a pair of tubular members, a sleeve adapted to receive the 'adjacent ends of said members, an end member arranged in the outer end of each of said members, clamps adapted to embrace a por-,

tion of a vehicle transverse members conconnecting the adjacent ends of said members, the outer end of each of said members being provided with an eye, a threaded rod having an eye adapted to receive said first mentioned eye, a clamp comprising an embracing'member, and an adjustable member connected to said threaded rod.

-3. A sectional tow rod comprising 'a pair of members, means for detachably connecting the adjacent ends of said members, the outer ends of said members being provided with eyes, threaded rods having eyes to engage said =first mentioned eyes, a substantially U-shaped clamping member adapted to surround a portion of the vehicle, and an adjustable plate, adapted to be received in saidU-shaped member and connected to said threaded rod.

4. A sectional tow rod comprising a pair of members, means for detachably connecting the adjacent ends of said members, a threaded rod secured to the outer end of each of said members, a substantially U- shaped clamping element, a guide plate carried by said clamping element, said guide plate being provided with an opening having threads adapted .to engage the threads of said rod, and an adjusting plate arranged in said clamping member and connected to said rod.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

. v EDWARD'JESOHM.

Witnesses: I

EDWARD Somaom, JOHN J. SKELLEY. 

